April 5: A Question of Habits

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is April 5th, and our story is A Question of Habits. In the first years of the 20th century, Catholic missions to the Native Americans were booming. By 1912, the Catholic Church operated 137 Native American missions, 55 boarding schools, and 8 day schools, all thanks to the generosity of some 10 million Catholics.

Many Protestant Americans, however, were less than thrilled by that success, and some began looking for ways to cool the Catholics' missionary fervor. In January 1912, a group of Protestant missionaries nearly succeeded. They convinced Commissioner Robert Valentine, their ally in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to ban religious garb and symbols from reservation classrooms. Because Protestant missionaries weren't given to wearing habits or placing crucifixes and statues of the Virgin Mary in their schools, the ban was a clear swipe at Catholics.

Catholics recognized the snob and sent Father William Ketchum to talk some sense into the federal government. Ketchum didn't quite manage that, but he did persuade President William Howard Taft to block the enforcement of the order until federal hearings could examine the matter more closely.

In April 1912, both Protestants and Catholics made their case before a special commission convened to examine the question. The final decision, rendered by Interior Secretary Walter Fisher, was a draw. The ban on religious garb and symbols stood, but the government also carved out an exemption for current habit-wearing employees. In other words, teachers who wore habits could continue wearing them, but only if they served in reservation schools prior to the ban. All future religious teachers would be required to dress as laypeople.

Despite the new restrictions, Catholic missions on the Native American reservations continued to thrive, much to the chagrin of their Protestant peers. Faith is often tested in the public sphere. In our own lives, faith may confront opposition or misunderstanding, but staying true, adapting wisely, and remaining committed to our principles allows us to leave a meaningful impact, often inspiring others to do the same. Identify one area where your values might be challenged.

Take a principled stand today, even if it requires patience and creativity. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Join us tomorrow, April 6th, for another story of faith and courage in America.